by Adrian Owens

Created on: October 30, 2009   Last Updated: November 11, 2009

Your love of travel can be an excellent educational tool for children. Vacationing to places they have learned about during school reinforces those lessons. Historical locations always come to mind when you think of education and vacations but there is much to be learned by visiting campgrounds, exotic locales, beaches, and yes, even road trips. With a little preparation Science, History, Geography, Math, and English can all be incorporated in your travels while having fun. Try these suggestions to use travel as an educational tool for your children.

1. Math-Money is essential when going on vacation.

Bring along a change jar on a road trip and have the children take turns counting out the money for the tolls. Keep the receipts and at the end of the trip have them help you add up the amounts to report the total cost of the tolls for the trip.

Older children can calculate the amount of the tip when you eat out and younger ones can count the money.

Provide the children with the starting and destination car mileage. Allow the children to subtract the mileage at their destination and report how many miles traveled each day. For older children ask them to calculate how many miles per hour they actually traveled.

2. Geography-Maps are our friend.

Provide the children with maps (electronic or paper) before the trip so they can see their destination. Ask questions concerning the states, countries, oceans, the list is endless, bordering their destination. Invite them to do research concerning various geographical sites they would like to visit and what activities they would like to do upon arrival.

3. English/Language-You say aqua, I say water.

New words can be learned visiting from one state to another. Whether the word is soda or pop, sub or grinder, if children are encouraged to listen carefully they may pick up a new word particular to the area they are visiting.

Traveling to a location that is multi-cultural provides your child another way to introduce them to a new language or further increase their vocabulary. Invite your child to learn one or two necessary words such as water, bathroom, or help before they leave or while visiting.

Using an electronic or a paper journal, children can record points that peaked their interest or made an impression on them.

When looking at informational brochures from attractions, invite them to read out loud a paragraph they find interesting, or for younger children, listen as they describe the illustrations.

4. Science-Look at the sky above you and the earth below.

Science is all around and can be instilled by collecting seashells, rocks, and snakeskin (for the brave). Talk about the differences in their collection and their thoughts on what type of animal habitat they have found. Fauna and flora can now be researched with the aid of the Internet on cell phones so all of their questions can be answered easily.

While fishing or snorkeling have them describe the differences in the fish and coral. Inquire what other reptiles or animals they also notice around the water. The different types of flowers and vegetation, ask how do they play a part in supporting the ecosystem.

Visit caves and ask to hear the children's thoughts about spelunking and "total darkness". A photo album can be created of the stalagmite and other rock formations they see when exploring or touring caves.

These four suggestions are just the beginning of the various ways you can incorporate travel as an educational tool for your children. With forethought and preperation you can make your travels not only fun but knowledgable too.

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